Not such a banner season in New Braunfels

Updated 10:44 pm, Thursday, December 20, 2012

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday on the New Braunfels' Main Plaza in support of the banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday’s focus.

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday on the New Braunfels' Main Plaza in support of the banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday’s focus.

Photo: Courtesy

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Gavin Liss and Ollie Liss (from left) were among those who gathered Wednesday on New Braunfels' Main Plaza in support of the banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday’s focus.

Gypsie Judice holds a sign on New Braunfels' Main Plaza in support of the banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday’s focus.

Gypsie Judice holds a sign on New Braunfels' Main Plaza in support of the banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday’s focus.

Photo: Courtesy

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Emma Liss, Melanie Owens and Gypsie Judice (from left) were among those on the New Braunfels' Main Plaza in support of the banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday’s focus.

Emma Liss, Melanie Owens and Gypsie Judice (from left) were among those on the New Braunfels' Main Plaza in support of the banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday’s

People gathered on New Braunfels' Main Plaza Wednesday in support of banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday’s focus.

People gathered on New Braunfels' Main Plaza Wednesday in support of banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday’s focus.

Photo: Courtesy

Not such a banner season in New Braunfels

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New Braunfels officials are feeling heat over their removal this week from city property of two banners, earlier approved by municipal utility staffers, that said, “Keep Christ in Christmas.”

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday on the downtown square in support of the banners put up by the local Knights of Columbus to remind Christians of the holiday's focus.

“We waved and smiled at everyone and wished them a Merry Christmas, while holding signs that said things like, 'Jesus is the reason for the season,'” said Melanie Owens, who helped organize the rally.

They'd been slated for display through Christmas Eve over South Seguin Avenue and Landa Street from utility poles under a $240 permit that the Knights of Columbus Council 4183 obtained from New Braunfels Utilities.

However, when a caller to the city-owned utility raised questions, NBU CEO Paula DiFonzo concluded the banners were inconsistent with agency policy and had them removed Monday.

“If it appears that this message is endorsed by the city, then we have an 'establish clause' problem — that the city is endorsing a religion, or endorsing all religion as opposed to no religion,” he said Thursday.

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“Once they open the door to a sign that may be popular with the majority they must, under the free speech rules, offer the same opportunity to those who have messages that may be unpopular with most in the community,” he added.

NBU spokeswoman Gretchen Reuwer said the banners didn't meet any of the agency's criteria for such banners: promoting events of a charitable or humanitarian nature; events of an educational, scholastic or artistic nature; or other nonpolitical events of community or public interest that are for the benefit of a nonprofit group.

She said the policy is being reviewed, and staffers briefed, in light of the banner flap.

Even though NBU agreed not to bill the group and the banners are back up, this time on private property, Paul Deltz of the Knights of Columbus said: “I'm very upset that they chose to remove the banners instead of honoring their contract.”

“First, they said it just didn't follow their guidelines,” he said of NBU officials. “Then they said it didn't promote an event. But Christmas is an event.”

Deltz voiced suspicions that NBU staffers were pressured by elected officials or city hall.

Not so, said Mayor Gale Pospisil who, as a utility board member, was among those DiFonzo consulted on the banners.

“There wasn't any pressure on anybody,” Pospisil said. “There was a policy in place which, unfortunately, was incorrectly applied.”

Besides not conforming to NBU policy, the mayor also noted, “There is a separation of church and state issue.”

Pospisil was happy the banners have found new homes, but dismayed over the reaction to their removal.

“It's gotten blown out of proportion and, frankly, I think some of the phone calls and emails I've received on it are of a decidedly un-Christian nature,” she said.